Rock Notes (Book One of the Heartbeat Series) (6 page)

Madison, please take once a day to keep up with the band and me, Rand.

Rand pushed the items aside smiling and I sat down beside him startlingly aware of his hand around my waist the entire ride to the airport. His thumb made little fluttering circles on my back, slightly lifting my shirt and touching my bare skin. His thumb moved in a pattern, as if he was tapping out the rhythm of a song, making little circles and shifting the beat to go in reverse. I tingled, chilled and smiled and lightly licked my lips in anticipation of the trip and how he made me feel.

Our arrival in Florida was sunny, first stop was Jacksonville. I was told we would be going down A1A on the coastline to Fort Lauderdale and then to South Beach. The band had mentioned a surprise awaiting me in South Beach, but with guys talking you never quite know what they are implying. Maxwell greeted us all at the airport and was very kind to me as well. He never let on that I reached out to him, perhaps he never received my inquiries to write about the band or put two and two together as to my identity.

Maxwell explained that there were two vans to take us to the hotel, but when he told Rand to go with the band members, Rand shook his head and took my finger tips and lead me to the other van and shut the door once we entered. From the limo, to the plane, to the van, all the way to the door of my hotel room, he never let go of my finger tips. It was endearing. I felt his softness, just like I was being caressed and taken care of, and I thought that I was maybe helping him feel something back as well. As we stood in the hallway of the hotel before I entered my room, I leaned on the wall waiting for the bellman to exit the room after taking in my luggage. Rand still had a hold of two of my fingertips. Turning toward me, he placed both of his hands on the wall. With me pinned up tightly against the wall, he stood looking down at me, holding me captive as he tilted toward my lips. He did not touch me at first, just slowly leaned down and then came in to kiss me. First, he nudged my forehead, and slid his nose down mine and then pulled back. He looked into my eyes and then came in and took one passionate kiss. My arms hung at my sides and his arms still remained firmly overhead leaning above me on the wall. Isaac was coming down the hall and hollered, “Oh, please get a room you two!”

Our lips together chuckled and we let out a breath from our noses, but we continued to kiss. I was so consumed by his lips and his unrelenting kiss. The way he kissed me, it was like he hadn’t seen me for a while. I opened my eyes only to glance at his wrists and saw an inscription on the inside band of his leather wrist cuff. This was the same wrist band that I’d seen him wear at the concert and that he rubbed and twirled on the entire trip here it read,
My Love, Ashley
. I pulled away from his lips and ducked under his strong arms. The bellman was exiting at this moment so I think he thought that was why, but as I entered my room and looked back, I smiled and said calmly, “Rand I will see you later.”

I shut the door and fell apart, how could I compete with this beautiful girl, Ashley, his love? Where was she? Did I dare ask or open this wound to him? I liked being kissed by Rand but with another woman holding his heart, I knew this would end for us before even starting. I figured when the time was right perhaps he would mention her, or the band would. I stood behind the door for several moments tracing my lips over and over where Rand’s lips had just been. Despite my worry about Ashley, I felt like I never wanted these lips washed or touched again. Well, touched by anyone else at least.

With all of us checked in, Maxwell told the guys that he was having them practice for a bit and wanted to go over their upcoming schedule of shows. This would take a few hours and he also offered that he had food coming in for them. Men always respond nicely to food. For me, I decided to just stay back and catch up on my thoughts and writings and enjoy the amenities of the hotel. I also wanted to catch up with Jillian and let her know I arrived okay and all was good. With the band all gone and Maxwell too, I walked the hotel and toured the property taking in the pool area that was so nice and peaceful. Since it was spring and quite warm here in Florida, there still weren’t too many travelers here. I believe Maxwell knew that when booking the band here to stay.

I sat for awhile, out by the pool in my clothes but started to get warm with the early afternoon sun. I thought I would head up to my room, grab my notes and change into one of my bathing suits, a bikini, that
yes
, Jillian packed. Actually, she jammed them into my suitcase saying, “Madison you have a rocking body even if you don’t show it, you’re heading to the South. You’re going to have hot weather, sunny days, and hopefully heated nights!” I stopped her train of thought. Today, I was glad I hadn’t stopped her before she had packed it for me.

As I sat by the pool, I wrote a bit and then dropped my notes next to me and lowered my beach hat to relax and take all this in. The next few hours flew by and when I looked up through the design of my hat, a thatched pattern appeared with a face just beyond. In a whisper I heard, “Madison please cover up, these guys will go crazy.” Then as his voice lowered, “Please cover up now you’re driving me crazy.” I tilted up and lifted the brim of my large hat and adjusted my eyes realizing that I was within inches of Rand’s face and he was handing me one of the hotel’s large pool towels. “Here, please put this over you.” He said as he actually laid it on me. Normally, at this moment I would have been so nervous and embarrassed and probably shy to be lying in my bikini, but I think it was my knowing that the young girls’ eyes were on us that allowed me to remain calm and mature. I knew that I had just totally climbed two more steps of my confidence ladder.

“Rand, I must have crashed. I thought you guys would be gone for hours, and I wouldn’t catch you until tomorrow at breakfast.” As I spoke those words, I realized how glad I was that they returned.

Even as the sun had warmed my body outside, I knew something simmering between Rand and me was responsible for the warming inside. And for a moment, taking in the sight of him there poolside, in his shorts and tight tee shirt, I think he was the one who needed the covering up. A few young girls had already switched their lounging pool chairs to get closer to where I was and I know it was not to get a glimpse of me.

I got up and wrapped the towel around my waist but my bathing suit top was still on display. I leaned back down into the chair letting out a sigh like Rand had just won in succeeding in getting me covered up. I had definitely taken in some color in the past few hours out here at the pool and I looked at Rand as he touched my skin in between my chest and neck and said, “You got color,” his fingers drifted up and down my sun soaked skin between my breasts, and traveled up to my throat, then he slowly outlined my entire bathing suit top like he was memorizing the shape. I was breathless; I had to actually bite the inside of my cheek to keep it from quivering. He said again, “Would you please cover up you can’t do this to me.” I know I wasn’t doing anything; he could have any girl as they were all there for the taking and ready to be with him anyplace and surely at anytime. I was just lying in the afternoon sun relaxing, but to make him happier I pulled on a Rolling Isaac’s tank top, and he smiled while we walked back toward the hotel.

Their first concert in the sunshine state was great, although I expected nothing less. The band left together and I stayed behind to ride over with Maxwell a bit later. I was excited to have my backstage pass, but when we got to the venue, I soon found I would rather be in the front row with them all singing out toward me than seeing their butts all night, not that that wasn’t a nice sight either. While they were setting up I was back stage with them all and felt like a part of their team.

Isaac was loud and commenting about the huge crowd and loud again as he talked about all the hot girls. He was even calling them out by their clothes. “The one in the purple tank top,” or “the one in the yellow halter.” Obviously he didn’t know their names, only their clothing color and description but for him that was enough. Raeford, he was kind and seemed in thought a lot and took the shows seriously. He brushed past me and said, “Madison you looked great at the pool.” I blushed as I didn’t hear him talk too much yet and I didn’t even know he was out there. I thought it was only Rand with me.

Kent, well he was another story. He again spun me around and when I turned so he could not plant a kiss on me, he turned and grabbed my ass tightly and said, “Hey you can write this.” It was all funny – he didn’t mean any harm. He was just being Kent and, well, it seemed to slightly ruffle Rand’s mood. Rand took a few steps back and headed over to talk to Maxwell briefly, but still kept his blue eyes on me.

It was Ron that surprised me this evening. Again in his sunglasses, and it was dark out, he came over and raised his glasses before speaking. “I’ve played some music at our practice to lyrics Rand’s been writing, it’s sounding pretty cool. It’s a ballad with him singing and me playing the keyboards. He and I will have to perfect it before we perform it. I think you are a good influence and inspiration for him. Thanks for being here.”

A tear welled in my left eye, but I quickly said back, “God these lights are so bright don’t they make your eyes tear?”

Ron replied, “Why do you think I’m always wearing sunglasses?”

As they took the stage, the crowd roared, the lights started to dance all over and the fog covered the surface of the stage. Rand shouted to the crowd, “Hello Jacksonville, we are Rolling Isaac’s!” Rand turned and mouthed me a kiss, I was pretty certain it was to me, but the many girls surrounding me in the crowd before him all let out sighs and screams. I watched how truly captivating he was and how he just pulled in your every emotion as he sang.

It was midway through their playlist that I saw the lights dim and Rand took a corner position toward where I sat in the front row, or actually stood as I was on my feet almost the entire concert. He hung his head, gently cradling the microphone and a tear fell from one eye. He did not wipe it, and I just followed it down until it hit the stage below in what appeared to me, slow motion. The crowd was silenced and then Rand did what he did best. He used his incredible voice and sexual moves to tug on every single girl’s heart including mine. Then as quickly as a ballad had slowed the audience down and saddened us all, they ramped up the next tune and were back to rocking the house.

“That was awesome!” I shouted at Maxwell, mostly because I think the loud music deadened my hearing a bit. Maxwell smiled and said, “I’m proud of Rand even with what has happened in his life he still pours his soul into the music.” Maxwell was to be my designated driver back to the hotel, so we did not linger back stage at all. Actually he wanted to head there and so I figured seeing the band off in the distance high fiving and opening up beers that I would slip out with him.

It was when we went to get in the van, I was taken aback. I viewed a large group of very pretty young girls, heading back to where the band was hanging out and drinking. I only saw a few seconds of Isaac reaching out and lifting one young girl up onto his shoulders and walking off with her and then Rand leaning in and kissing another.

The evening of Jacksonville, now became a repeat scenario a few days later in Fort Lauderdale. Another hotel and more practice for them and I actually stayed a bit distant from Rand since I still had his face so clearly in my mind. Reaching out and bringing that lovely girl close to his thighs, grabbing her waist tightly and pulling her in for a kiss that evening. When he asked me why I was quiet lately, I just told him I was pouring myself into my writing. He continued to lead me about with finger tip holds a few quick breaths to my ear, and cheek kisses.

In Fort Lauderdale, I actually emailed Jillian a very lengthy email and let her know my writings were coming along and I enjoyed their first gig. I did not mention the butterflies in my stomach in Rand’s presence, nor did I tell her about the way it felt when he touched me. That he could lead me almost any place and I’d follow. I definitely didn’t tell her I saw the kiss that twisted my stomach, very effectively smothering my butterflies. I sent her their upcoming schedule highlighting the Atlanta date, and since she had family there it might work perfectly. Jillian and I could visit her brother Jason and after seeing him we could go to a show together. I told her to let me know and we could work out the travel details. I told her I loved her and did miss her, and yes, I was totally having fun.

While I usually ate most breakfasts with the band before they headed out to practice, I was usually on my own for lunch.

I walked along the Fort Lauderdale Marina for a bit enjoying the sight of the vast yachts and the day’s beautiful weather. I visited a few shops on the well known Las Olas Boulevard and then I finally stopped at a restaurant that faced the water from across the street and ordered some lunch. I was enjoying these quiet afternoons. Just then my phone sounded.

I’ve missed you since breakfast, sorry Maxwell held me up talking. Kent didn’t hesitate to jump in and take my seat next to you this morning. You handled Kent well. Please wash that left side of your face before I come to kiss it later – Rand

My heart pinged, I exhaled on a long breath. I stared at the beautiful beach, this lovely day and thought this is a wonderful life. I texted him back.

The breakfast that you make is sooooo much better and so is the company. I am beachside taking this all in. Have a good rehearsal. Oh and I’m wearing shorts and a tank top; yes I am clothed even though I’m beachside so you need not worry.

My phone sounded once more.

Madison I always worry, always where you’re concerned. Shorts and a tank top, still to skimpy. You have no idea how us men think.

I replied back,

At least it’s a Rolling Isaac’s tightly fitted tank top, which should make you smile.

I received a yellow smiley face back on my phone screen.